Sail

Sail
Sail Sail, n. [OE. seil, AS. segel, segl; akin to D. zeil, OHG. segal, G. & Sw. segel, Icel. segl, Dan. seil. [root] 153.] 1. An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through the water. [1913 Webster]

Behoves him now both sail and oar. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail. [1913 Webster]

3. A wing; a van. [Poetic] [1913 Webster]

Like an eagle soaring To weather his broad sails. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

4. The extended surface of the arm of a windmill. [1913 Webster]

5. A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft. [1913 Webster]

Note: In this sense, the plural has usually the same form as the singular; as, twenty sail were in sight. [1913 Webster]

6. A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon the water. [1913 Webster]

Note: Sails are of two general kinds, {fore-and-aft sails}, and {square sails}. Square sails are always bent to yards, with their foot lying across the line of the vessel. Fore-and-aft sails are set upon stays or gaffs with their foot in line with the keel. A fore-and-aft sail is triangular, or quadrilateral with the after leech longer than the fore leech. Square sails are quadrilateral, but not necessarily square. See Phrases under {Fore}, a., and {Square}, a.; also, {Bark}, {Brig}, {Schooner}, {Ship}, {Stay}. [1913 Webster]

{Sail burton} (Naut.), a purchase for hoisting sails aloft for bending.

{Sail fluke} (Zo["o]l.), the whiff.

{Sail hook}, a small hook used in making sails, to hold the seams square.

{Sail loft}, a loft or room where sails are cut out and made.

{Sail room} (Naut.), a room in a vessel where sails are stowed when not in use.

{Sail yard} (Naut.), the yard or spar on which a sail is extended.

{Shoulder-of-mutton sail} (Naut.), a triangular sail of peculiar form. It is chiefly used to set on a boat's mast.

{To crowd sail}. (Naut.) See under {Crowd}.

{To loose sails} (Naut.), to unfurl or spread sails.

{To make sail} (Naut.), to extend an additional quantity of sail.

{To set a sail} (Naut.), to extend or spread a sail to the wind.

{To set sail} (Naut.), to unfurl or spread the sails; hence, to begin a voyage.

{To shorten sail} (Naut.), to reduce the extent of sail, or take in a part.

{To strike sail} (Naut.), to lower the sails suddenly, as in saluting, or in sudden gusts of wind; hence, to acknowledge inferiority; to abate pretension.

{Under sail}, having the sails spread. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • sail — [sāl] n. [ME seil, sail < OE segl, akin to Ger segel, prob. ult. < IE base * sek , to cut > L secare, to cut, segmentum, segment] 1. any of the shaped sheets of canvas or other strong material spread to catch or deflect the wind, by… …   English World dictionary

  • sail — ► NOUN 1) a piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship. 2) a wind catching apparatus attached to the arm of a windmill. 3) a voyage or excursion in a sailing boat or ship. ► VERB 1) travel in a sailing boat… …   English terms dictionary

  • Sail 8 — was an attempt at sailing protesters from Cherbourg in Northern France to Edinburgh in Scotland, as part of the 2005 Make Poverty History campaign. Taking place on 3 July 2005, the day after Live 8, the event was intended to be another aspect of… …   Wikipedia

  • Sail — Sail, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sailed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sailing}.] [AS. segelian, seglian. See {Sail}, n.] 1. To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by the action of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sail — Sail, v. t. 1. To pass or move upon, as in a ship, by means of sails; hence, to move or journey upon (the water) by means of steam or other force. [1913 Webster] A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To fly… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sail — [v] travel through water, air; glide boat, captain, cast anchor, cast off, cross, cruise, dart, drift, embark, flit, float, fly, get under way*, leave, make headway, motor, move, navigate, pilot, put to sea*, reach, run, scud, set sail, shoot,… …   New thesaurus

  • sail — |a í| s. m. Óleo de peixe.   ‣ Etimologia: alteração de saim …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • sail — vb float, skim, scud, shoot, dart, *fly …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • sail — sail, to put to sea; to begin a voyage To get ship under way in complete readiness for voyage, with purpose of proceeding without further delay …   Black's law dictionary

  • sail|er — «SAY luhr», noun. 1. a ship with reference to its sailing power: »the best sailer in the fleet, a fast sailer. 2. a sailing vessel …   Useful english dictionary

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